Thanks!

May 1, 2008 2:16 PM

I just wanted to point out how great a guy adamwolf is. When I asked this question he offered me an old oscilloscope of his he was replacing.
posted by phrontist to etiquette/policy at 2:16 PM (51 comments total)

It's a trap.
posted by dersins at 2:27 PM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

Beware of geeks bearing gifts.
posted by Plutor at 2:47 PM on May 1, 2008 [2 favorites]

Beware of geeks bearing gifts.

Nah.

I asked this question and not only did a user go above and beyond to get me a video file that solved the problem, but kindall sent my baby boy a stuffed Tivo-guy (Flickr video there) which my son is totally in love with.

Mefites in general are good and generous people.
posted by anastasiav at 2:50 PM on May 1, 2008 [2 favorites]

I got some salty licorice from aubilenon.
posted by beerbajay at 2:53 PM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

Beware of geeks baring.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 3:03 PM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

I thought pants were optional?
posted by carsonb at 3:05 PM on May 1, 2008

Beware of geeks bearing grifts.
posted by jamjam at 3:27 PM on May 1, 2008

I wore a hat naxosaxur gave me to the latest meetup.
posted by languagehat at 3:37 PM on May 1, 2008

Hey, anyone here want to loan me some money?
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 3:41 PM on May 1, 2008

*posts askme about buying a used million dollars*
posted by cortex at 3:43 PM on May 1, 2008

Beware of Germans bearing gifts.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:00 PM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

Beware of bears with gifts, monkey.
posted by allkindsoftime at 4:05 PM on May 1, 2008

I'm consistently amazed by how above and beyond some people go here for others on MeFi. This question of mine even resulted in a MeMailed explicit transport offer from someone who I've sometimes vehemently disagreed (and sometimes agreed, for that matter) with on MeTa.

(An offer I won't be needing after all, but how fantastically awesome is that?)

Not to invoke a Haley Joel Osment movie, but this just encourages people to pay it forward.

I doubt people do these things on Slashdot, I truly do :-)
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 4:11 PM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

what happened to naxosaxosaur anyway?

Also I might have stuff to give away. Let me know if there is anything you need.
posted by Rumple at 4:18 PM on May 1, 2008

Let me know if there is anything you need.

Love?
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 4:23 PM on May 1, 2008 [2 favorites]

The fantastic Micayetoca had his friend hand-deliver me a Cuatro all the way from Venezuela after I helped him on his song, I Shine. I later played the Cuatro on my own song.
It still blows me away that he did that.
posted by chococat at 4:25 PM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

JKF, I'll send you some Sweet-Tartz
posted by Rumple at 4:27 PM on May 1, 2008

I later played the Cuatro on my own song, which to this day is user John Kenneth Fisher's absolute favorite Mefi Music song ever.

Fixed that for you.
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 4:27 PM on May 1, 2008

This question of mine even resulted in a MeMailed explicit transport offer from someone who I've sometimes vehemently disagreed ... with on MeTa.

I'd be happy to pick several of you up and drive you ... somewhere.

I kid, I kid!
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:52 PM on May 1, 2008

I've been waiting for this thread for a while. The wonderful Mothershock mailed a signed copy to an aspiring young female author I know, after I begged for just an email of encouragement! miagaille and misanthropicsarah were totally gracious in some regional questions I asked them (literally) out of the blue. And iconomy shared with me some sweet search secrets that have helped me in all kinds of ways.

You folks are the bestest.
posted by cashman at 4:57 PM on May 1, 2008

Signed copy of her book, that is.
posted by cashman at 4:58 PM on May 1, 2008

Back in the very early days of AskMeFi, krunk created an entire new application called IndieRock based on a question I had about uploading/displaying "recently playing in iTunes" data from a PC onto a website.
posted by Asparagirl at 5:04 PM on May 1, 2008

metafilter: we have oscilloscopes.
posted by quonsar at 5:06 PM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

Beware of Germans
posted by fire&wings at 5:25 PM on May 1, 2008

Yeah, well, I once went to a meetup and...
posted by katillathehun at 5:44 PM on May 1, 2008

The fantastic Micayetoca had his friend hand-deliver me a Cuatro all the way from Venezuela

If anyone wants to hand-deliver me a free Audi Cuatro, all the way from Germany, I'll happily pay shipping.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 6:20 PM on May 1, 2008

krunk created an entire new application called IndieRock based on a question I had about uploading/displaying "recently playing in iTunes" data from a PC onto a website.

I actually helped him test that for a while. I didn't do much but I helped a little. krunk is also the one that told me memberships were open when I first joined.
posted by puke & cry at 6:31 PM on May 1, 2008

Let me know if there is anything you need.

Love?

A hug. Everybody needs a hug.
posted by ddaavviidd at 6:31 PM on May 1, 2008

Yeah, well, I once went to a meetup and...

AND YOU NEVER GAVE THEM BACK
posted by cortex at 6:41 PM on May 1, 2008

I was searching around AskMefi in December to do something similar to what's asked in this question and I emailed NailstheCat about his answer there, hoping maybe he could help even though it was months later.

He responded and tweaked his code to do what I needed and then helped me troubleshoot when it didn't work quite like I thought it should.

NailstheCat is awesome and Metafilter is awesome.
posted by chiababe at 6:48 PM on May 1, 2008

I have belonged to many internet communities, and I've learned that it never hurts to ask for stuff. I've gotten plant and tissue samples mailed from around the world, very very rare mushroom spores sent on my birthday, free grow lights and filters, all kinds of digital files, and transportation and lodging. An oscilloscope would be very close to the top of the list.

I've paid back in kind, and the feeling is great. About a year ago, I gave out hundreds of cherry shrimp and green Singapore shrimp I had been breeding in my office to complete strangers, in a way making it up to the other people who had sent me stuff before. Ive also given out three dozen fancy betta fish my wife bred. There are some people here and in other communities to whom I owe an apology or a favor, but I freeze up when trying to write a note or send a gift, and end up hoping they will forget I never will).

In one of the best communities I've been in, one that got FBIed to death, people would start Random Act of Kindness threads once in a while, giving out some really cool stuff just because. Sometimes the threads would go on for months, with the recipients or just random users offering more stuff.

In the spirit of those RAoK threads, I can offer a very nice Java Fern (hard to ship, attached to driftwood, pick up in bay area?) and a clump of Java Moss (easy to mail) to anyone interested in a freshwater planted aquarium. If you have a sad betta or goldfish, this would make a good addition to your tank. If you are in the San Francisco area and want to start a small tank, I can hook you up with a small 1.5 gallon acrylic tank, a filter, substrate and some plants.
posted by Dr. Curare at 6:51 PM on May 1, 2008

BTW, I ignore memail, if you want the stuff, please reply here.
posted by Dr. Curare at 6:52 PM on May 1, 2008

I do not want to be exposed to explicit transport offer.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 7:23 PM on May 1, 2008

I thought pants were optional?

Actually, this isn't true.
posted by Pants! at 7:35 PM on May 1, 2008

AND YOU NEVER GAVE THEM BACK

I thought that was Derek's job!
posted by katillathehun at 7:53 PM on May 1, 2008

metafilter: we have oscilloscopes in our pants
posted by junkbox at 8:27 PM on May 1, 2008

M.C. Lo-Carb! asked : Hey, anyone here want to loan me some money?

"I just made a loan to someone in the developing world using a revolutionary new website called Kiva.

You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone in the developing world who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the entrepreneur is going.

The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva's loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly."

I read about Kiva in an article in Fortune magazine. The founders were inspired by the Nobel prize winner, Muhamad Yunus.

Thanks, M.C. Lo-Carb! :) for the chance to talk of Kiva here to the generous and helpful Mefites.
posted by kryptos at 10:24 PM on May 1, 2008

Jonmc gave me a stick of Dentyne once.
I still have it.
In my Special Box.
posted by Dizzy at 6:13 AM on May 2, 2008

Hey, anyone here want to loan me some money?

Actually, I've seen some web communities (like Something Awful) set up groups on prosper.com, and they actually do loan money. And you get interest, unlike Kiva.
posted by smackfu at 6:18 AM on May 2, 2008

Omiewise mailed me a book about hippies. Which was nice of him.
posted by Divine_Wino at 6:50 AM on May 2, 2008

Well, if it's a Tek 506, I hope you don't live on the third floor. Trust me on that one.

(Very cool, adamwolf. Good on you.)
posted by eriko at 7:37 AM on May 2, 2008

Mefites in general are good and generous people.

In general sure, but when you get specific, you'll find that I am a complete and total bastard.
posted by quin at 7:39 AM on May 2, 2008

Aw, don't listen to him. One time, without even having to be asked, quin gave me his last noogie.
posted by cortex at 7:39 AM on May 2, 2008

Kidding aside, we really do seem to do the 'community' thing very well. I'm always impressed in these threads at the number of people who just happily provide for each other based on nothing more than a shared conversation. It's actually pretty damn cool.
posted by quin at 7:41 AM on May 2, 2008 [1 favorite]

Alls I ever got from one of y'all was a flaming itch after a meetup.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:20 AM on May 2, 2008

I got two giant syringes, complete with giant needles, from ColdChef, out of the blue, with no real connection to anything I'd written. My favorite part was the explanatory letter, on his office stationary.
posted by MrMoonPie at 9:40 AM on May 2, 2008

group hug!
posted by cowbellemoo at 10:11 AM on May 2, 2008

I've seen some web communities (like Something Awful) set up groups on prosper.com, and they actually do loan money. And you get interest, unlike Kiva.

I'm going to guess that the Something Awful lending group gets its money back pretty much 100% of the time. I can only imagine the horrors that would befall the unfortunate individual who stiffed a goon.
posted by LeeJay at 10:28 AM on May 2, 2008

Dr. Curare: "In the spirit of those RAoK threads, I can offer a very nice Java Fern (hard to ship, attached to driftwood, pick up in bay area?) and a clump of Java Moss (easy to mail) to anyone interested in a freshwater planted aquarium. If you have a sad betta or goldfish, this would make a good addition to your tank. If you are in the San Francisco area and want to start a small tank, I can hook you up with a small 1.5 gallon acrylic tank, a filter, substrate and some plants."

It just so happens that I recently acquired a couple of goldfish in SF who would probably love a live plant. Do you think it would work well with these guys in a 6.6 gallon tank?

And in the interest of paying it forward, I also have a 2.5 gallon tank and a filter (turned out it was way too small for these fish) if anyone wants it. It would be heaven for a beta.
posted by team lowkey at 11:07 AM on May 2, 2008

I once baked a cake for Dizzy then forgot to tell him about it.
It was delicious.
posted by slogger at 3:07 PM on May 3, 2008

I bought a kitty and named him slogger.
It was delicious!
posted by Dizzy at 3:24 PM on May 3, 2008